Weeder and cultivator.



K. F. GERHARD.

WEEDER AND CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULVY31, 19x4.

Patented Aug. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

A a j.

m M 9 3 MW u COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.. WASHINGTON, 1:. c4

K. F. GERHARD.

WEEDER AND CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LUMBIA PLANOORAPH COqWASHlNOTDN. D. C.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

WEEDE-R, .AI ND CULTIVATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL F. GERHARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hatton, in the county ofAdams and State of Washington, have invented new and usefullmprovementsin lVeeders'and Cultivators, of which the following is a specificw.

tion. I

This invention relates to weeders and cul+ tivators of that classinwhich a plurality of standards carried frame are provided withapproximately horizontally disposed triangularblades for the purpose of'cutting the stalks, weeds andother plants slightly beneath the surfaceof the ground in order that the same may be eradicated.

The present invention has for its object to produce an improvedconstruction where by the blade carrying shanks aresupported arrangementand combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims,

In the accompanying drawings has been I illustrated a simple andpreferred form of g the invention, it being, however, under-I stood thatno limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural detailstherein 'exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modificationswithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is atop plan view of a machine constructedfinaccord. ance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a hori zontal sectional view,enlarged, through one end of the machine taken onthe line 22 in Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 *in Fig.1.Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view taken on the line 4% inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a'perspective detail View of a portionof one of theblade carrying shanks together,. with the adjustingcollar. Fig. 6 is asectional detail view taken on the line 66 "in Fig. 8. Fig. is asectional detail view taken on the-line 1 77 in Fig. 3. Fig. -8Iisasectional detail Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. s, 1915.

Application filed July 31, 1914. Serial No. 854,325.

view taken on the line 88 in Fig. 3. Fig.

9 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 9 9 in Fig. 2. I

Corresponding parts in theseveral figures are denoted by like charactersof reference.

FQE. I

KARL r. GERHARD, OFHA'ITON, WASHINGTON.

j The main framel5 ofthe improved machine is supported by axle members16 havmg ground wheels 17, the end members of the frame being providedwith bearing boxes 18 wherein the" axle members are supportedlforrotation. Additional bearings 18 forthe axle members are mounted on.

cross bars 19 ofthe main frame. Mounted on the front and rear sidemembers of the frame are a plurality of bearing members 19 eachconstituting a housing in which a substantially vertical shank 20 issupported for axial rotation and for vertical slidable movement. lowerend in a foot 21 with which a substantially horizontal Vshaped blade22is connected, said blade being preferably pro vided with an upstandinglug 23 which is connected with 'the foot by a fastening Each shankterminates at its I member such as abolt 24:, it being under stood thatother connecting 'means may be employed when preferred. Each shank 20 iis provided with a groove or key-seat 26 extending through the greaterportion of its length from the upper end downward.

The housing 19 is provided above the top face of the main frame 15 witha hori-,

Zontal slot 27 through which extends a lever arm 28 having at one endaneye 29 engag ing the shank 20, said eye being provided with a lug 30engaging'the key-seat of the shank, which latter is thus ,verticallyslidable with respect to the lever arm but capable of beingrocked by thelatter. Each lever arm is a slot 31. V I

Supported onthemain frame for sliding provided at its outer end withmovement thereon 'in a directionparallel to the axle 16 is a rectangularframe 32, jthe front and rear. members of which are provided withstuds33 engaging-the slots 31 of the lever arms 28. It follows thatwhenthe frame isreciprocated, thelever armswillj be rocked, and the bladecarrying shanks 20 will be axially rotated in their respective"bearings. I

For the I ciprocatory rame one ofthe axle members 16'isequipped' withabevel pinion 34 meshed for rotation in an approximately hori urpose ofactuating the reing with a bevel gear 35 which is support- I zontalplane ona crossbar 36. 'I hebevel gear" 35 is provided vwith a wrist pin37 which is connected by a 'pitm'an '38 witha bar 39 which constitutes apart ofthe frame, 32, extending longitudinally between the side membersthereof and connected with said side members by diagonal braces 40 whichalso constitute portions ofsaid frame.

I It will be seen'that when the machine is in s blade carrying Theground and engaging a ratchet wheel 43 on the axle member; V The mainframe supports uprights 44? motion the frame will be reciprocated, thustransmitting axial rotary movement to the shanks.

34Eis revolublymounted'on said axle memvber, but v is connected forrotation therewith when the machine moves'in' aforward direction'bymeans'of a clutch device of com-- mon construction including springactuated pawls 42 mounted on'the hub of the wheel on which rock shaftsa5 are mounted above provided with a lug for the'passage of I o thesets'crew- 5r-i'in' order to avoid'threading the front and rear 'membersof the main frame, saidro ck shafts being provided with cranks 46, theends of which are pivotally connected with the ends of a connectingvrode? in order that said rock shafts may 49 with pintlesor pivot members50'extending from diametrically oppositesides of :1

sleeve 51 which is mounted on the shank 20. Each sleeve 51 is surroundedby a collar 52 having a horizontal slot 53 through which the plvotmembers 50 extend, said sleeve being-provided with a set screw 54'whereby it is adjustably secured on the shank 20. The slot 52 extendsthrough an arc of approximately 270 degrees so that the pivot members 50'willnot interfere with the axial rotation of theshank 20, when thelattier is rocked by the means provided for the purpose.

The collar 52 ispreferably said screw through that part of the collarwhich-is .weakened by' the slot 53. One of the rock shafts t5' isprovided with a hand lever 56 havingja stop member 57 engaging a racksegment 58 said leverfbeing posi tioned in suitable proximlty'to the drvers I seat 59;

It will be readily seen fr'omthe foregoing. description that bymanipulating the lever, 56 the individual blade carrying shanks 20 vmay-be raised or lowered and that} said shanks may besustained in anyposition to which they jmay beadjus'tcd, It will be,

furthermore, seen that the a construction is such that in any positionthe blade carrying shanks will be rocked or axially rotated V p n wheelassociated witht-he' axle member that'carries the bevel pinion H 7144942I i when the machine advances while backward movement of the machinewill not result in rocking the blades,'owin'g to the presence of theclutch device which constitutes a part of the transmission mechanism.The V-shaped cutting blades areof such extent, and the blades or wingsthereof are placed at such an angle with respect to each other that at geach axial rotation onewing willbe pre; sented in a straight line withrespect to the advancing movement of the machine. The cutting bladeswill thus be enabled to clear 1 themselves of the stalks, leaves andrubbish engaged thereby, and the operation of the machine willbeunimpededand thoroughly '80 effective. V

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new, is':'

' 1. In a machine oftheclass described, a

wheel supported: frame," housings carried V thereby, and blade carryingshanks mounted in said housings for vertical adjustment and a 'for axialrotation, each shank having a vertical groove, a lever arm in slidableengage, ment with each shank and having a lug engaging the groove, andmeans forlrocking the lever arms. 2. In a" machine of the classdescribed, a.

wheelsupported frame, a housing carried thereby and having a horizontalslot, a ver-' tically grooved shank slidable through the housing andcapable of rotating axially therein, a lever arm in slidable engagementwith the shank and having a lugengaging Y the-groove therein, saidleverarm extending throughthe slot in the housing, and means 7 for rockingthe lever arm. n p a 3. Ina machine ofthe class described, a. I wheelsupported. frame, a housing carried thereby and having ahorizontal slot,a blade 1 carrying shank slidable through the housing'and capable ofrotating axially therein,

a leverarm extending through the'slot of, the-housing, said. arm beingconnected with the shank to rock the latter, and means for rocking thelever arm) 4:. In a machine of the classdescribed, a V wheel" supportedframe, a housing, carried, thereby, a blade carrying shank slidablethrough the'housing, a lever'arm having an 11 eye through which theshank slides, said 7 arm being connected with the shank to retateaxially the latter. means for rocking the arm, and means for effectingvertical adjustment ofthe shank while permitting it to rotate freely.

'5. In a machine of the class described, a

'wheel supported frame, a housing carried thereby and having 'ahorizontal slot, a lever extending throughthe' sl'ot of'the housing and;having an eye within the housing," said; eye beingprovided with a lug, ablade carry-- ingshank slidable through the housing and thelever eye,said shank havingsa groove engaged by the lug, a sleeve mounted looselyfor effecting vertical adjustment of the justably secured on the shank,means conand means for rocking the lever to im-' a part axial rotationto the shank. 10 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof two vvltnesses. V KARL F. GERHARD. Witnesses:

J. HARTER, J. I H. SEXSON.

on the shaft and having laterally extending eye, pivot members, a collarsurrounding the sleeve and having a slot through Which the pivot membersextend, saidcollar being adnected with the pivot members of the sleeveshank through the housing and the lever Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addi'essing' the Commissioner ofPatents, Washington, D. G.

